Jesus' love

"He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered.

They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.

He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!"

And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.

After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him." -Mark 3

We don't know a lot about love and how it operates. I've been thinking about love lately. A post by my friend Beth and another from Mary have helped me too. Does love mean you overlook everything and be 'nice'? Does it mean you pick every battle? How do you "sin not" in your anger?

This story about Jesus gives me a clue. He was angry and grieved. This was not a slight on Jesus' personal pride. Jesus was not angry for his own sake. Ever secure, he was grieved and angry on their behalf.

Jesus grieved over how locked in and stubborn they were and with authority (not rebellion) he acted and healing came. Jesus' pro-active authority shut the mouths of his accusers.

There is a time to be angry, reasons to grieve - but complaint and rebellion do not bring healing, love and action do.